Staff writer
Marion County Commission wants ideas for using about $26,000 of community enhancement funds the county received from TransCanada.
Commissioner Dan Holub said he wanted it to do good beyond just paying a bill once and disappearing. He said he thought two groups of people could benefit the most: senior citizens and young people.
Donating part of the money to Marion County Senior Citizens’ foundation could help senior centers for a long time, and donating part of the money to entrepreneurship programs could help young people, Holub said.
Commission Chairman Randy Dallke said he agreed that paying a bill with the money would be a waste, but he said he wanted to hear more ideas.
In other business:
- The county may be able to opt out of planned tax increment financing plans in Hillsboro and Peabody, County Clerk Carol Maggard said. After a city approves a plan, the county would have a 60-day protest period to take action during.
- County offices will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in 2011 as the county moves to a 40-hour work week from 37 1/2-hour work weeks.
- Road and Bridge Superintendent Jim Herzet said he would like to have soil borings done on 330th Road between Tampa and K-15 in preparation for road construction. The tests would cost between $5,500 and $6,000, he said.
- Engineering firm Kirkham Michael estimated damage to Quail Creek Road between 290th and 370th roads caused by TransCanada pipeline construction traffic at $52,000. Dallke asked Herzet to request that TransCanada round up the community enhancement fund to $30,000, in addition to the damages.
- Herzet met with commissioners in closed session for five minutes to discuss personnel. No action was taken on return to open session.
- Transfer Station Director Rollin Schmidt expects the tipping fee at Butler County Landfill to increase $1 per ton Jan. 1. Dallke asked the amount the county paid to Butler County this year, which will be presented at a future meeting.
- The transfer station will be open Dec. 27 to prevent a backlog of work following the Christmas holiday.
- Daniel King of Hillsboro spoke with commissioners about a change in property category that more than doubled his property taxes. Commissioners referred King to the court of tax appeals if he thought the change was incorrect.
- Commissioners met in closed session for 15 minutes to review applications for an open position. No action was taken on return to open session.
The next commission meeting will be Monday.